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SummaryArtificial colloids based on gelatin are used as plasma expander to replace donor blood products. In laboratory experiments, gelatin reduced both the velocity and extend of platelet agglutination by ristocetin, and only the agglutination velocity by polybrene (p <0.05). Furthermore, gelatin delayed the in-vitro platelet plug formation under shear-stress in the absence of ADP (p <0.05), whereas gelatin induced no delay in the presence of ADP. Thus, after induction of vWF release from platelets by polybrene or ADP, platelet function was normal. These results indicate that gelatin affects in particular the functionality of plasma-vWF and partly inhibits platelet adhesion.These negative effects of gelatin on hemostasis were demonstrated in two clinical studies during cardiac surgery. In a randomized study of sixty patients undergoing cardiac surgery, gelatin as prime in the heart-lung machine appeared to result in diminished efficacy of aprotinin on hemostasis, whereas it did not affect hemostasis in non-aprotinin patients. An additional retrospective clinical study showed that only high dose of gelatin affected hemostasis. This suggests a limited role of plasma-vWF and a strong back-up mechanism of platelet-vWF in achieving hemostasis.

A variety of studies have been performed on the preservation of hemostasis by aprotinin during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). It appears that the mechanism of aprotinin to preserve hemostasis can be interpreted in different ways. Our previous studies suggested that preservation of platelet glycoprotein Ib (GpIb) antigen, and counteraction of heparin anticoagulation in the extrinsic clotting pathway might partly explain the preservative effect of aprotinin. A clinical study was therefore conducted to evaluate these effects during the use of low dose aprotinin. Improved agglutination by ristocetin (P < 0.05), and improved GpIb antigen expression (P < 0.05) during CPB showed better preserved platelet adhesive capacity in the aprotinin group than in the control group. Glycoprotein Ib antigen expression and the agglutination capacity with ristocetin during CPB were closely related (P < 0.05). Platelet GpIIb/IIIa antigen and adenosine diphosphate (ADP) aggregation were not significantly different between the aprotinin and control groups. Aprotinin had no effect on the extrinsic clotting pathway in the blood, since the thromboplastin clotting time was similar in both groups. These results indicate that the protection of platelet adhesive capacity during CPB is a main function of aprotinin, whereas no evidence was collected for enhanced extrinsic clotting by aprotinin during CPB.

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